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February 27, 2012 — For years, extraction of coal bed methane (CBM) was a
one-and-done proposition: Extract the natural gas from the coal and move on to
the next bed. Now, technologies are being developed that may allow for the
continued production of CBM through the stimulation of microorganisms living in
the coal bed.

The biogenic process, referred to as "methane farming," will
be one of the subjects discussed during the Secondary Biogenic Coal Bed Natural
Gas International Conference, which will be hosted by the University of Wyoming
June 20-21, at the UW Conference Center and Hilton Garden Inn in Laramie. The
conference begins at 8 a.m. June 20 and concludes at 3 p.m. June 21. Conference
registration is under way.

The conference is presented by UW's Center for Biogenic
Natural Gas Research, School of Energy Resources and the College of Engineering
and Applied Sciences.

"With this approach, you need to look at the coal seam as a
biological reactor. Microorganisms living within the coal seam have been
producing natural gas for thousands of years. All we have to do is engineer the
system to produce more gas, faster," says Michael Urynowicz, UW Department of
Civil and Architectural Engineering associate professor, and director of UW's
Center for Biogenic Natural Gas Research. "Basically, if you can find ways to
make the microorganisms happy, they will create more natural gas."

These technologies also could be applied to depleted coal
seams located throughout the Power River Basin, with the added economic benefit
of existing coal bed methane-related infrastructure.

Luca Technologies, based in Denver; and Ciris Energy, Inc.,
located in Centennial, Colo.; are companies that are working to commercialize
"methane farming" in the Power River Basin. Representatives from those
companies, other CBM representatives and researchers, including faculty and
student delegations from Australia and India, are expected to attend, according
to Urynowicz. He said he expects nearly 100 conference attendees from countries
all over the world.

"Even though natural gas prices are currently low, there is
still a lot of interest in this technology," Urynowicz says. "It has the
potential to create a new energy paradigm by changing the way we look at coal
and other fossil fuels."

Rob Hurless, UW SER deputy director, will be the keynote
speaker. He is currently on loan to Gov. Matt Mead and works on energy strategy
for the state. He previously served as
energy and telecommunications adviser to former Gov. Dave Freudenthal. A
keynote time and date has yet to be determined.

Luca Technologies will sponsor a pre-conference field trip
to the Powder River basin June 18-19. Buses will depart at noon June 18, from
the Hilton Garden parking lot near the main lobby area. Luca Energy will
sponsor transportation, lunches, dinner and field trip excursions. Attendees
will be responsible for payment of their room at the Hampton Inn in Sheridan.
Rooms will be available at the group rate of $114 per night, plus taxes. If
interested in attending the field trip, contact Kelly Garvey at serforum@uwyo.edu.

For UW faculty interested in submitting an abstract to be
considered for platform or poster presentation at the conference, go to http://www.uwyo.edu/cbng/_files/docs/cbngconferenceabstracttemplate.pdf.

Session topics include, but are not limited to, the
following areas:

Microbiology in Coal Bed Reservoirs and other
Carbonaceous Deposits.

Coal Solubilization/Depolymerization Processes.

Biogenic Natural Gas Production.

The submission deadline for abstracts is Thursday, March 1.
To submit applications, e-mail Garvey.

Next Fuel Incorporated will present two $500 cash awards -- one
for best poster and another for best oral presentation -- to student
presenters. Winners will be announced at the end of the conference.

Photo:Coal bed methane is recovered from a coal seam. The biogenic
process, referred to as "methane farming," will be one of the subjects
discussed during the Secondary Biogenic Coal Bed Natural Gas International
Conference, which will be hosted by the University of Wyoming June 20-21, at
the University of Wyomiong Conference Center and Hilton Garden Inn in Laramie.